Carpet fastener with contouring surface



June 11, 1963 H. c. STUMP 3,092,869

CARPET FASTENER WITH CONTOURING SURFACE Filed Oct. 5, 1961 Fig-3 42 Homer 6. Slump INVENTOR.

BY and W 5M United States Patent O F 3,092,869 CARPET FASTENER WITH CONTOURING SURFACE Homer C. Stump, 4428 Knoxville St, Lakewood, Calif. Filed Oct. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 142,580 1 Claim. (Cl. 16-7) The present invention relates to fastening and holddown means for a marginal edge portion of a floor covering and has reference to wall-to-wall carpet and specially constructed and uniquely designed fastening means which is novel in that it promotes an attractive contour presenting a desired cove-effect.

Briefly summarized the invention has to do with a simple practical economical device susceptible of being manufactured from a suitable grade of plastic or aluminum, the same, in the finished form of the adaptation, having horizontal and vertical component parts united and defining and providing an original junctional connection or joint therebetween. The exposed or obverse surface of the junctional connection is contoured to provide a curvate surface with the desired cove efiect. The top of the horizontal part is provided with a groove defining a channel for a readily insertable tackless carpet strip, that is a strip provided with angled outstanding carpet impaling prongs. The upper lengthwise edge of the vertical component or part is constructed and designed to provide a channel for reception of the raw edge of the carpet and an ornamental enclosing cap.

A device constructed in accordance with the features briefly revealed above provides an adaptation which not only satisfactorily serves the purposes for which it is intended but constitutes a novel article of manufacture which should appeal to production economies of manuzfacturers and should be endorsed by retailers. In fact and with the invention available users will be able to achieve an attractive and decorative carpet-to-wall terminal as well as a finished cove effect.

The invention also makes it possible to dispense with the use of baseboards and commonly used decorative molding. With this invention surplus carpet which would otherwise be wasted is aptly and effectually used. Baseboards and adjacent wall areas with soiled and unsightly surfaces and molding and baseboards with chipped paint need no longer be an eyesore.

With the herein disclosed invention in use the floor and wall blend in a curvate smooth-finished effect. This is to say the invention allows the carpet to form a natural curve upward and obviates the undesirable and makeshift carpet-laying practice of turning the edge of the carpet underneath and tacking same as is often done according to present-day installation methods.

Then, too, it is apparent that the invention combines methods of soft floor covering and hard surface floor covering in a natural cove finish and overcomes the accumulation of hard-to-remove dirt and extraneous matter whiil; accumulates in corners and lodges itself in unsightly crac These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of a carpet contouring and fastening device or carpet cove constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-section showing the device associated with the floor and wall; and

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing the marginal edge portion of the carpet fastened and 3,092,869 Patented June 11, 1963 ice also gently curved from a vertical to a horizontal position to achieve the desired or improved end result.

Referring now to the drawing it may be pointed out that the linear measurement (horizontal measurement when the device is in use) may be and preferably is four feet. The material may be plastic; aluminum or whatever material the manufacturer decides upon. The device in cross-section defines an angle or may be said to be l.- shaped to provide a horizontal floor contacting part or member 6 and a vertical wall contacting member 8. The member 6 has a fiat bottom to rest firmly atop the horizontal floor 10. The top surface thereof is provided adjacent the lefthand marginal edge with an open-ended groove or channel 12 having lengthwise undercut edges '14. The vertical member 8 gradually decreases in thickness in an upward direction and has a flat surface 16 to rest firmly against the coacting wall 18. The extreme upper lengthwise edge is provided with an outwardly overhanging flange 20 terminating in a depending lip 22 defining an open-ended relatively narrow channel 24. The connecting web between the members 6 and 8 has a curvate or concave surface 26 which defines the principal cove contour. The mitered surface 28 is a clearance surface which bridges the corner 30 at the juncture of the surfaces -10 and 18. The device as a structural entity is designated by the numeral 32.

The aforementioned channel 12 is designed and adapted to satisfactorily receive the readily insertable plywood tackless carpet strip or fastener 34. As usual this strip is provided with suitable angled penetrating or impaling prongs 36. The numeral 38 designates the pad atop which the floor covering or carpet 40 is laid. The marginal edge portion of the carpet designated sometimes as the raw edge 42 is seated in the channel 24 and is also substantiaily concealed and decorated by the overhanging cap embodying the flange 20 and lip 22. The vertical or upstanding edge portion of this thus anchored carpet is denoted generally at 44. The device should be made in such measurements and manner that it will fit snugly in place with tension against the wall without mastic, nails or screws in the wall. The horizontal member is, however, held down by suitable nails 46 used in installing the device in the usual manner illustrated in FIGURE 3.

It is believed that a careful consideration of the specification in conjunction with the figures of the drawing will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding of the construction and cooperation of the component parts and the best mode of installing the same for reliable results. Therefore a more extended description is believed to be unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalent may be restored to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A carpet fastening device which enables the user thereof to dispense with the use of a customary baseboard and strip of molding comprising a unitary body having a horizontal portion to reside atop the floor and a vertical portion to rest against the coacting vertical surface of a wall, adjacent lengthwise edges of said members being connected by an intervening junctional web, the reverse side of the web being mitered to provide a clearance face, the obverse side being arcuately concave, the arcuity defining a decorative carpet-edge shaping and fastening cove, the top surface of said horizontal member being provided with an open-ended channel having undercut lengthwise marginal edges, an insertable carpet strip having upstands a i 3 ing carpet impaling prongs received and removably retained in said channel by said edges, said vertical member beginning with the terminal portion of said web decreasing gradually in thickness in an upward direction and termina'ting' along its upper edge with an outstanding horizontal flange which in turn is provided with a depending lip, saidverticalvmernber being flexible'and disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to said horizontal portion for itswhole length in an unstressed condition, the flange and lip defining a relatively narrow downwardly opening channel-for reception and anchorage of a marginal edge of the carpet.

UNITED STATES PATENTS McCastline May 3, 1887 Van der Pyl June 10, 1924 Eichhorn et a1 Mar. 1, 1960 Linsky June 28, 1960 Franker Aug. 8, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Dec. 29, 1960 

